Update 06/04/2023 12:53pm:

According to reports, the third man implicated and charged in the murder of legendary DJ Jam Master Jay in 2002 is set to plead not guilty to the murder. 

49-year-old Jay Bryant was charged with murder along with drug trafficking charges, according to federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York. The indictment on Bryant and two other men noted Bryant was already awaiting trial in an unrelated federal drug case. 

Cesar de Castro, a lawyer for Bryant, noted his client was pleading not guilty. “Securing an indictment in a secret grand jury, applying an extremely low burden of proof, is one thing. Proving it at trial is another matter.” said de Castro.

source: AllHipHop

Original 05/30/2023 8:58pm:

A third man has been indicted for the murder of Hip Hop pioneer Jam Master Jay (real name Jason Mizell) three years after Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were indicted for the 2002 murder.

Prosecutors charged Jay Bryant for his alleged involvement in Jam Master Jay's murder, claiming he helped Jordan and Washington carry out the fatal shooting. They also allege Bryant admitted to his role in the Hip Hop legend's passing by stating to someone that he was the actual shooter.

"Bryant was observed entering the building immediately before the shooting, and an article of clothing left at the crime scene contained Bryant's DNA," said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace. "He later admitted to participating in the murder, claiming to one associate that he was in fact the shooter."

Peace also labeled Bryant "an acute danger to potential witnesses" and referenced his criminal history as a reason to not release the suspect on bail.

"Bryant is a convicted felon with a criminal history spanning over two decades in multiple states," Peace said. "During that time, he has used over half a dozen aliases, failed to appear for court dates, and absconded from release on bail and other forms of court supervision."

While prosecutors previously tried speeding up the trial date for Jordan and Washington, the delays allowed them to gather evidence on Bryant. The prosecution hoped to start Jordan and Washington's murder trial in November, but a confirmed date is yet to be announced now that a third co-defendant has been introduced.

Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington face life in prison if convicted. Stay tuned for more updates on Jay Bryant's charges.

Source: AllHipHop